Do you still back Critchley?

Do you still back Critchley?

  • Total voters
    305
I’ve voted unsure needs time.

I didn’t want him back.
I think that him repeating a bad start followed by promotion is much less likely as past performance is no guarantee of future performance and he looks like he’s been burned by his QPR stint which also included throwing players under the bus in interviews.

He clearly has Sadler convinced so he isn’t going anywhere. I don’t think we are “lucky to have him” and think Sadler was a bell end for putting out another of his statements as it all turns to shit. On what we’ve seen I think he will make it to the end of the transfer window next year and then walk before he is sacked. We have no option but to give him time but it looks grimmer than last time as we had started to pick up our performances by now (albeit results were still crap) last time around.
 
One of the key elements of a successful football team is that the players have confidence in what they are trying to achieve. Olly gave that to his team in spades and made them all feel they were world beaters. Appleton, McCarthy did the opposite and now Critchley is carrying that on. A good example of that is Ekpeteta, who, at one time was being touted as a potential Prem player. Critchley made him pivotal to his agenda of playing out from the back! Everyone and his dog could see that was never going to work apart from him, with the inevitable result that Ekpeteta lost all confidence and is now on the bench!
It is blatantly obvious that the team do not enjoy playing in the way he wants them to, and, as a result their confidence is being undermined!
In my view, Dobbie achieved the reverse, albeit in a limited number of games.
 
southshore said:
First time round the players gave him 110% every week.

They didn't at Lincoln, and they didn't Saturday,

I actually think the squad we've got is good enough. The question mark then has to be with the manager. I voted unsure, but I am becoming concerned.
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I’d settle for 100% but if they not giving that they should be ashamed of themselves. Deals weren’t done in the transfer window which has led to the slow start. You can’t change a manager this early or you become a sacking club - no good for anyone. Bite the bullet til Xmas.
 
Born tangerine said:
I'm disappointed up to now it's been poor to watch. As Brian Clough once said football is a simple game.
Football manager's and coach's today try to re-invent the wheel instead of keeping it simple and playing to their players
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Control the ball, pass it and move. L1 footballers don’t want too many instructions. If you are confused by an instruction you’re not going to do it.
 
Adams Kebab said:
Don’t think we have a choice but not to back him at the moment. I don’t think we’ve had a great transfer window & are lacking in a few key areas.

To get us cracking, I think he needs to stop worrying so much about what the opposition are doing & concentrate on what we can do. We’re setting up at home to Port Vale like they are Real Madrid and he’s talking up Wycombe offensively like Pep’s Barca.

Give Dembele a run of games to get going, ditch Connolly as a left wing back and face facts that the January 2022 signing of Jake Beesley was where it all started to trend downwards recruitment wise and admit he’s not up to the job, even a League below to what we bought him for.

Midfield is also the key as I don’t think we’ve got the mix right yet in relation to sitting, attacking and blend.

We can’t get into this wanting managers changed after a short period but we also can’t have someone picking players in the wrong position, which is basic stuff.
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100%
 
I'm all for giving him a chance. However I voted that I think he's hopeless, because I live in the present, and presently it's ** dross.

Maybe it will come good, just like last time?

However last time he wasn't persisting with playing a right footed centre back at LWB, and a left footed left winger at RWB.

I cant see results changing if we continue playing as we are.
 
Dr Hfuhruhurr said:
Control the ball, pass it and move. L1 footballers don’t want too many instructions. If you are confused by an instruction you’re not going to do it.
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Unfortunately it's not the way NC coaches, each player has instructions, there not allowed to think, remember Kenny scoring in the playoffs, he wasn't allowed to shoot,.he still did though. It's seems lots of players are not using there football brain, due to not being allowed to only do as NC says.. we all know what happens then.
 
SwannDangerous said:
I'm all for giving him a chance. However I voted that I think he's hopeless, because I live in the present, and presently it's ** dross.

Maybe it will come good, just like last time?

However last time he wasn't persisting with playing a right footed centre back at LWB, and a left footed left winger at RWB.

I cant see results changing if we continue playing as we are.
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Yep bang on that
 
Whether it's the formation or wrong players in the formation most seem to agree that things need to be altered. Opinions not formed from one game but over the last 7 + the other games (which I don't think count for anything, others do).

So why hasn't NC seen the problem and come up with an alternative? He should have by now and that's a bit worrying even for the 1:5 who are backing him. He has his aides working alongside and either they aren't being listened to or aren't giving NC proper feedback.

Things will get better and there's not a chance of relegation. Equally there's not a chance of promotion either.

NC needs help from outside, he won't come consistently good on his own.
 
fcblackpool said:
Whether it's the formation or wrong players in the formation most seem to agree that things need to be altered. Opinions not formed from one game but over the last 7 + the other games (which I don't think count for anything, others do).

So why hasn't NC seen the problem and come up with an alternative? He should have by now and that's a bit worrying even for the 1:5 who are backing him. He has his aides working alongside and either they aren't being listened to or aren't giving NC proper feedback.

Things will get better and there's not a chance of relegation. Equally there's not a chance of promotion either.

NC needs help from outside, he won't come consistently good on his own.
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Also from the inside we don’t seem to have a Madine or Uncle Richard who will say what they want even if it rocks the boat….
 
I think somewhere along the line someone of experience in the game has told him to pick his formation and stick to it. And that it may take time to start to work but do not waiver. I really think this is the case.

Unfortunately it doesn't take an expert eye to see that what he is doing isn't going to just click. The players are either not good enough of don't have the appetite for it.
 
Not quite going the way that Phil would have hoped this vote .. Yes votes slightly out-numbering No votes but with the unsure added in there is little appetite for this weird 'get rid of Critch' agenda!

Do you still back Critchley?​

  • Yes I'm a fan of his​

    Votes: 42 25.9%

  • No he's useless​

    Votes: 41 25.3%

  • Unsure, needs time​

    Votes: 79 48.8%
 
GaryMadineGoalMachine said:
Not quite going the way that Phil would have hoped this vote .. Yes votes slightly out-numbering No votes but with the unsure added in there is little appetite for this weird 'get rid of Critch' agenda!

Do you still back Critchley?​

  • Yes I'm a fan of his​

    Votes: 42 25.9%

  • No he's useless​

    Votes: 41 25.3%

  • Unsure, needs time​

    Votes: 79 48.8%
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I think your percentages might be a little skew whiff there lol.
 
Just voted “Unsure needs more time” I mean till after Bolton away nor a day after.

We can’t fuck around with managers like we did last year.

I think there are “green shoots” but they can’t go missing every other week.
The time is NOW it MUST happen NOW!!

When I voted it was 27% Yes 24% No and and 49% like me Unsure needs a bit more time but that has to end after Bolton Game.

Sadler needs to sit down with Critch and agree target number of points by that game finishing.
 
GaryMadineGoalMachine said:
Not quite going the way that Phil would have hoped this vote .. Yes votes slightly out-numbering No votes but with the unsure added in there is little appetite for this weird 'get rid of Critch' agenda!

Do you still back Critchley?​

  • Yes I'm a fan of his​

    Votes: 42 25.9%

  • No he's useless​

    Votes: 41 25.3%

  • Unsure, needs time​

    Votes: 79 48.8%
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I don't have an agenda
 
GaryMadineGoalMachine said:
Not quite going the way that Phil would have hoped this vote .. Yes votes slightly out-numbering No votes but with the unsure added in there is little appetite for this weird 'get rid of Critch' agenda!

Do you still back Critchley?​

  • Yes I'm a fan of his​

    Votes: 42 25.9%

  • No he's useless​

    Votes: 41 25.3%

  • Unsure, needs time​

    Votes: 79 48.8%
Click to expand...
So 75% aren't backing him and the other 25% are booked in for psychological assessments😉
 
When I look at some of the nut jobs of last year if the question is do I trust him then the answer is yes. Is he getting it right then No.
Of course football is a strange old beast and I'd always be interested to know what his game plan is for certain games.
Was Saturday's to keep a clean sheet for the first half an hour and frustrate the opposition but the plan went to pot?
My advice after watching 40 years of football? Look after your own side before worrying about the opponents.
 
LA-KINGS said:
The football is boring and not winning. Doesn't get worse.
Sick of us signing 4 players who are similar standard and don't improve the team, instead of spending the money on 1 or 2 who are better than we have. Why Morgan, Weir, Oakley-booth instead of a player who is much better. We still have Norburn, Virtue, Carey, Dougall etc. We needed quality not quantity.
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Who decides who's quality . You can pay a million for a player and he can still be a flop. Or worse ,have an attitude that upsets the rest of the team. I remember Oyston paying 250,000 for a striker in the 80s from Millwall and he was shit and played about half a dozen games.
 
On this poll should have been a forth choice and that would be . Did you want Critchley back in the first place , because I would rather have put my vote in that then "No he is useless". He may still prove himself ,but at the moment I doubt it.
 
I still back him and I think he can turn us into challengers in this division. I picked unsure because I wouldn't necessarily say I was a fan of his but I think he could turn it around and needs until Christmas unless we go on a diabolical run. We do have some tough fixtures coming up so it will be interesting to see how we get on in those games.
 
He’s had enough time, it’s clear he isn’t going to change, he’s now starting to blame the players and that’s the thin end of the wedge. If he does, and we start to play football we want and we start winning, then I’ll grudgingly accept him, but I won’t forget the miserable days sat watching crap.
 
Wycombe were shite let's be honest. They had Scowen who was their best player but their play was all about hoofing it towards Hanlon and Vokes and hoping it stuck. Outside of that. Shite. Lincoln. Shite. Port Vale. Shite.

Run of the mill League One sides who turn up with a plan, execute it and get results. We don't actually have a plan. And we are respecting the opposition too much. It's some of the worst football I've seen with the quality available.
 
Jaffa_The_Hut said:
I’m just shocked at how many people are supportive of him. 🤷‍♂️
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I just like to watch the “ give him x amount of games” Game.
As the games tick by it started off at let’s see where we are after 10 games..
Then I’ve seen let’s see after 15 games..
Now it’s let’s see how we are at Christmas..
Next it will be let’s give him the January transfer window..
Not sure what follows that 🙄
 
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SeasideKurt said:
Wycombe were shite let's be honest. They had Scowen who was their best player but their play was all about hoofing it towards Hanlon and Vokes and hoping it stuck. Outside of that. Shite. Lincoln. Shite. Port Vale. Shite.

Run of the mill League One sides who turn up with a plan, execute it and get results. We don't actually have a plan. And we are respecting the opposition too much. It's some of the worst football I've seen with the quality available.
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Shite or not they managed to get some decent crosses in & could have scored on several more occasions. We need to make the most of what we’ve got. But what do we know. I really want it to work whatever it is 🤷‍♂️
 
Towerpower99 said:
I just like to watch the “ give him x amount of games”
As the games tick by it started off at let’s see where we are after 10 games..
Then I’ve seen let’s see after 15 games..
Now it’s let’s see how we are at Christmas..
Next it will be let’s give him the January transfer window..
Not sure what follows that 🙄
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The bloody sack if nothing has greatly improved.
 
Phil_bfc deux said:
A right footer on the right and a left footer on the left would be a start

The wing backs just dont create playing on their weak foot

Its obvious
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You only have to look at the crosses Wycombe put in on Saturday to see that in comparison Connolly as a left wing back poses minimal attacking threat.
Putting Thompson or Husband on the left and Lyons on the right would improve us instantly.
Hamilton comes on no earlier than 70 minutes and ideally when we are winning and the opposition have to attack. Connolly only comes on if you have a defensive position that needs filling.
How have we ended up with a situation where Hamilton and Connolly are nailed on starters as inverted wing backs!!!
 
If we’re going to sack managers in these kind of circumstances, then frankly we might as well shut the stadium and pack in.
 
fcblackpool said:
Who's going to get sacked? NC isn't.

He needs help and the players need a voice in the dressing room, it appears to me.
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But that's like saying to Critchley, sorry, you're a bit shit, we need someone decent in at your side who is your number 2, but in reality is the main man because you are, ahem, a bit shit.

If he doesn't turn it round and gets potted he will either end up down the coaching roles at some EPL club or he'll be managing Crewe, his reputation will be in tatters.
 
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We're currently living the exact reasons I didn't want Critch back. That doesn't mean it won't improve but he's going to have to change stuff.

I don't get what he's trying to do with some of his choices. It's not just that it doesn't work, it's that I can't work out what he thinks certain things will achieve.

I have a certain sympathy for the fact he's tried to address the shape shifting tinkerman approach from last time and apply a system across the club but I still can't get over the fact he's actually made my joke from before the season of "if he's going to play wing backs, he'll probably make Connolly one of them lol rofl top banter etc" come true, but in an even more bizarre fashion than I jokingly anticipated.

download - 2023-09-18T185215.975.jpeg
 
td53 said:
We're currently living the exact reasons I didn't want Critch back. That doesn't mean it won't improve but he's going to have to change stuff.

I don't get what he's trying to do with some of his choices. It's not just that it doesn't work, it's that I can't work out what he thinks certain things will achieve.

I have a certain sympathy for the fact he's tried to address the shape shifting tinkerman approach from last time and apply a system across the club but I still can't get over the fact he's actually made my joke from before the season of "if he's going to play wing backs, he'll probably make Connolly one of them lol rofl top banter etc" come true, but in an even more bizarre fashion than I jokingly anticipated.

View attachment 16609
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That's Dave from the Royale family!!
 
hertfordseasider said:
But that's like saying to Critchley, sorry, you're a bit shit, we need someone decent in at your side who is your number 2, but in reality is the main man because you are, ahem, a bit shit.

If he doesn't turn it round and gets potted he will either end up down the coaching roles at some EPL club or he'll be managing Crewe, his reputation will be in tatters.
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It's like telling the truth.

He isn't getting sacked so we adapt.
 
It kind of irks me that 'Critchley needs an experienced voice' argument.

When Larry was here, when Appleton was here, no one was saying "oh, let's go and get someone to help them"

They had to live and die by their own work with the team they chose.

If Critchley chose not to appoint an experienced head to his team (which I assume was within his gift to do so) then I don't think we should be forcing one on him as i very much suspect he wants to do it his way, with his people.

Again, who is to say he can't - but I really think we've got to ride this particular wave and see where we land otherwise we'll be retreading the 'is Critch actually any good or not?' argument forever and shitting a brick looking for new assistants every 6 months (i.e. neither McCall nor Calderwood stuck around)
 
Towerpower99 said:
I just like to watch the “ give him x amount of games” Game.
As the games tick by it started off at let’s see where we are after 10 games..
Then I’ve seen let’s see after 15 games..
Now it’s let’s see how we are at Christmas..
Next it will be let’s give him the January transfer window..
Not sure what follows that 🙄
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If we are still limping along after November there is no way he gets the January transfer window. I'm not even saying we need to be top 8 by December but I want to see us looking like a coherent, competent team that can impose themselves on most sides in the division. And I want to see us heading in the right direction fairly soon, not this insipid, wishy washy, no fight, square pegs in round holes, forgettable team that we are currently suffering/ watching.
 
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